In the middle of Ermou Street, between Syntagma and Monastiraki is a small church, Kapnikarea.

The church was built in the mid-11th century, probably upon the ruins of another 4th century church, which in turn was built upon an ancient temple. On the church walls, you can distinguish pieces of marble and columns belonging to buildings of an older era.

The church, according to some, was named Kapnikarea probably from the family Kapnikari that arranged its construction.

The most recent murals in Kapnikarea are the hagiographies of 1955, which have the signature of Fotis Kontoglou, a significant Greek hagiographer.

In 1834 there was a demolition project of Kapnikarea, to enable the widening of the road. Luckily, the project was canceled last minute with the intervention of King Otto's father, Ludwig of Bavaria.